Voting in the US: Follow These Simple Steps to Make Your Voice Heard

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Register, request absentee ballots, and cast your vote with our guide

Co-authored by Vote.org and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: October 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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Getting Registered

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Voting on Election Day

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Early Voting

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Absentee & Mail-In Voting

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Ready to make your voice heard? Whether you're a first-time voter, need to learn more about special voting rules, or just want a refresher, this is the guide for you. First, we'll help you register to vote (which will just take a few minutes). You'll get a voter registration card in the mail that'll tell you exactly where to vote on Election Day. And if you won't be able to make it to the polls, we'll walk you through absentee and mail-in voting, too!

Quick Facts About Voting for the First Time

Register as a voter at least a month before Election Day. You can do this online, by mail, or in person.
Vote in person at your designated polling place on Election Day (or earlier if you live in one of the 46 states that offer early voting).
Or, request and mail in an absentee ballot if you live abroad or won't be able to go to the polls.
AL, MS, and NH do not currently offer in-person early voting options. CT recently enacted a law offering in-person early voting starting in 2024.^{[1]
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Section 1 of 4:

How to Register to Vote

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Confirm you're eligible to vote in the next election. Generally, you're eligible to vote if you're a US citizen and will be 18 on or before Election Day. While these are the only federal requirements, elections are run by state governments—many of which have separate requirements.^{[2]
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- Check your state’s requirements at Vote.org’s Vote Registration Rules page.
- If you've been convicted of a felony, check your voting rights anonymously online through Restore Your Vote, a project of the Campaign Legal Center.^{[3]
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- You may be able to pre-register before you turn 18. In 15 states and D.C., you can pre-register to vote as early as 16. When you turn 18, your pre-registration automatically changes to a registration. In four states, you can pre-register to vote when you are 17. If pre-registration isn't an option for you, sign up to receive a text reminder on your 18th birthday along with a registration link.^{[4]
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Check your voter registration status. Not sure if you're registered or not? It's easy to figure out! Just enter your name, address, and birth date at Vote.org’s Am I Registered to Vote page to check if you are registered—it only takes about 30 seconds.^{[5]
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- You don't have to register for every election. If you already registered in the past, your registration is still valid unless any information has changed, such as your name or address.
- In some states, you can be automatically registered to vote. In 22 states and the District of Columbia, eligible people are automatically registered to vote when interacting with certain government agencies, such as a department of motor vehicles, so even if you don't remember ever registering, you might still be registered.^{[7]
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- Double-check the registration deadline. If you're not registered, check your state's voter registration deadline. Make sure you submit your application before the date listed for your state if you want to vote in the next election.
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Complete or update your voter registration. Follow the prompts at Vote.org’s Register to Vote Online page. All you need to do is enter your name, address, and birth date. In 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam, you can register online, so it’s quick and easy to register to vote.
- Some states require you to list your party affiliation. This doesn't mean you have to vote for candidates from that party! This information is only important when you vote in a primary election.
- Update your information using the same application process. You’ll need to do this if there's information on your registration that's no longer correct, like your name, address, or party affiliation.
- If your state doesn't have online registration, just print the registration application after you fill it out. Then, either mail it to the address displayed or take it to your local election office in person. You can find a list of local election offices on USA.gov’s list of State and Local Election offices.
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Review the sample ballot for your area if you get one. Many state election offices mail sample ballots to registered voters before election day. Use the sample ballot to familiarize yourself with the candidates who are running for office. Usually, official sample ballots use the same format you can expect to see at the polls, too.^{[8]
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- If you didn't get a sample ballot in the mail, go to BallotReady or Vote.org’s Ballot Information page to find a preview of what is on your ballot.^{[9]
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Section 2 of 4:

Voting on Election Day

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Go to the polling place listed on your registration card. Your voter registration card will have the address of your assigned polling place. If you don't have your voter registration card, use vote.org's handy Polling Place Locator to find it.^{[10]
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- Expect lines on Election Day. You'll usually have less of a wait if you get to the polling location early. But keep in mind that lines can start forming even before the polls open.
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Check in with a poll worker. Typically, you'll see a row of tables at the entrance of the polling location. Talk to a poll worker, who will have a copy of the state voter rolls. If your state has a voter ID law, you'll usually need to show a state-issued driver's license or photo ID to verify your identity before the official will clear you to vote.^{[11]
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- Learn about your state’s voter ID laws at Vote.org’s list of Voter ID Laws.
- Sign the poll book to indicate that you showed up to vote. You're typically also affirming that you're eligible to vote and haven't yet voted in that election.
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Fill out the ballot to vote for your chosen candidates. The specific process for filling out your ballot varies depending on the type of voting system used where you live. You might be marking in bubbles on a paper ballot, or you might have a touch-screen computer or other voting machine.^{[12]
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- The poll worker will give you a brief explanation of how to vote. If you want to see it in action before you start voting, ask for a demonstration!
If you're using a computer or voting machine, make sure the machine records the votes you intend to make. Typically, you can change your selections before you finalize your vote.^{[13]
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Some machines retrieve and store a printed copy of your ballot, while others require you to feed your print-out into a separate machine. Normally, the machine will have instructions on the screen. A poll worker will assist you to make sure you're turning in your ballot correctly.^{[14]
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Section 3 of 4:

Early Voting

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Check your state's early voting rules. Almost all states and territories in the US have some sort of early voting option available. With early voting, you can go to the polls as soon as 46 days before Election Day to cast your vote. The biggest benefit? Shorter lines! Many states also have more convenient locations available for early voting.^{[15]
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- Learn about your state’s early voting rules at Vote.org’s Early Voting Calendar.
- If you live in a state with voter ID laws, make sure you have a state-issued driver's license or photo ID with you that matches the information on your voter registration.^{[16]
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Show up to an early voting location to vote. Early voting locations might differ from the regular polling location listed on your voter registration card. Typically, you have a greater choice of voting locations so you can pick the one that's most convenient for you.^{[17]
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- Check with your local election office to find out where to go for early voting. If you’re not sure where yours is, visit USA.gov’s list of State and Local Election Offices.
- Most states offer early voting, but not all. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not currently offer in-person early voting options. Connecticut recently enacted a law offering in-person early voting starting in 2024.^{[18]
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Mark your ballot for the candidates you want. When you vote early, you have the same ballot you'd have if you voted on Election Day. Just make your choices and you're all set. Follow the poll worker's instructions on how to mark your ballot.^{[19]
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- Ask a poll worker if you have any questions. They can't look at your ballot, but they can still answer any questions if you're unsure how to mark your ballot.
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Turn in your ballot as instructed by poll workers. Check over your ballot when you're done to make sure you marked everything correctly and didn't leave anything out that you meant to vote for. Then submit it through the voting machine.^{[20]
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- If you have any problems or aren't sure if your vote was recorded, ask a nearby poll worker for help.

Section 4 of 4:

Absentee & Mail-In Voting

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Get an absentee ballot for your state. If you can't get to the polls on Election Day or during the early voting period, you might be able to vote by mail ("absentee" voting). In 8 states—California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont (general elections only), and Washington—plus the District of Columbia, you’ll receive a ballot by mail, so you won’t have to request one. And in 27 states, you don't need an excuse to vote absentee—all you have to do is request a ballot. In the remaining states and territories, you need to present a valid excuse why you can't get to the polls on election day (or during early voting), such as being out of the state or having an illness or disability.
- If you’re permanently disabled: Some states, such as New York, automatically mail you an absentee ballot for every election if you provide the election office with documentation of a permanent illness or disability. Check with your state election office for more information if this applies to you.^{[21]
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- If you need to vote absentee for up to a year: Some states allow you to request mail ballots for every election for up to a calendar year (such as North Dakota and Oklahoma), or to join a list to automatically receive a vote-by-mail application for every election (such as Michigan and Pennsylvania).
- If you’re in the military or living abroad: Military members and their families, as well as all citizens living abroad, have the right to vote absentee. Connect with the Federal Voting Assistance Program to register and get your absentee ballot.^{[22]
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Follow your state's absentee voting rules to fill out your ballot. Read the instructions with your absentee ballot carefully so you know what you need to do to make sure your vote is counted. Mark your choices, then sign and date the ballot in the boxes indicated.^{[23]
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Mail your completed ballot before your state's absentee voting deadline. Your ballot typically comes with a pre-addressed envelope. If it's not postage-paid, affix the proper postage before you drop it in the mailbox. That's it—you're done!^{[24]
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- Many states also have drop boxes for returning ballots. If you're local, you might be able to use one of those. To find a list of drop box locations in your area, choose your state from the drop-down menu on the U.S. Vote Foundation’s State Voter Information tool.
- If your ballot didn't come with a self-addressed envelope, look up your local election office so you'll know where to mail it. Choose your state from the drop-down menu, then click on "absentee voting" to get the right address.
- If your state has a ballot tracker, you can use that to confirm your ballot was received and your vote was counted.^{[25]
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